Mindful mamas out there, have you noticed that this time of year rivals the holidays as far as the level of activities, commitments, “busyness” and overall stress?

I don’t know about you but my schedule, all of a sudden, is crazy packed! Just trying to schedule a routine doctor’s appointment or lunch with my mom seems like an insurmountable feat when I look at my calendar.

How did life get so busy all of a sudden?

As I received yet another end-of-school event email I felt the panic setting in.

Then it hit me. I realized this is how it is every year!

In years past, come June 1st I am a vague resemblance of the calm, relatively organized and well-rested mom that I strive to be the rest of the year. I somehow have little recollection of May, other than the piles of unfolded laundry, unpaid bills, and a sad looking pantry. Proof that I did live it, my family survived it, but what a blur it was!

As I see the collective stress level rise among myself and the greater mom population I decided this year would be different.

I sat down, took a deep breath and dug into my own personal toolbox for keeping myself happy, healthy and sane. I committed to the following four principles right then and there and want to share them with you too.

My goal this May is to as seamlessly, and gracefully as possible transition into summer. No frazzled, exhausted hot-mess here, but a sane, happy, healthy and present mama!

Won’t you join me?

4 Principles for staying Sane, Healthy and Present this May:

Self-care

Ok, ok, no huge surprise here. But ladies, we all know, just as it usually happens around the holidays, when we get busy, things are chaotic and schedules change, oftentimes our self-care is the first to go.

We all know what we need to do to stay happy and healthy, whether that’s keeping up with our workouts, keeping up with quality sleep (and enough of it), keeping our healthy eating habits in check, maintaining that meditation practice we fought so hard for, or something else completely. Whatever it is, lets recommit to it this last month of school.

No matter what.

Let’s commit to maintain those practices!

When mom is feeling good, everyone is feeling good.

If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no

While I try to remember this principle year-round, now is a super important time to embrace it. Right now we’re being asked to help out, attend social events and end of year activities, now more than ever. We’re cramming everything in before the kids are out for summer. How can we find more time to say yes to all-the-things?

Let’s offer each other collective permission to say ‘no’ to anything and everything that isn’t a ‘hell yes’ right now!

Let’s protect and prioritize our time, so that we aren’t that frazzled hot mess version of ourselves come June 1st!

Let’s say yes to the things that genuinely interest and excite us and graciously say no to the things that we dread or will drain us. Especially if they’re going to get in the way of us taking care of ourselves (see #1). There will be more opportunities, I promise.

Oh and a quick PSA: We are under no obligation to explain why we’re declining or give an exhaustive list of the things we’re already doing. We can certainly apologize for not being able to help out (although honestly, we should really never have to apologize for saying no, but I get it. #momguilt) Let’s just agree to just let go of feeling like we have justify a hell no, agreed?

Don’t sweat the small stuff

This may sound a bit cliche, but sometimes we need to be reminded. Piggy-backing on #2, if we miss an event, if we’re late for a performance, if we double-book and have to back out of something, or space something out completely, don’t sweat it! Seriously, let that sh*t go. A year from now (probably even a month from now), it won’t mean a thing. We’re only human. No self-loathing allowed. Let’s let go of the guilt and move on to what’s next!

Be present

This last month of the school year is going to fly by. In fact, before we know it, it’ll be the Fourth of July. (It always happens like that, right?)

Let’s enjoy these last days and weeks of whatever grade or season our children are in right now… because we won’t get it back.

Racing through this time with our hair on fire feels like survival mode so try this instead: Let’s stop, take a breath, sit down with our kiddos or just observe them from afar. Notice a few special things about them, how they are right now, and how exciting this time of year is.

Let’s just be in it. When we’re truly present, we can’t help but be grateful, often times even overwhelmed with gratitude. And that my friends is a good feeling; it’s a healing feeling and a restorative one. Embrace it because this time is precious and fleeting!

Alright, Warrior Queen Mamas, get out there and do your thing. Stay happy, healthy, peaceful and present. Don’t forget to have FUN, support each other and oh, will let me know how it goes?

Katie Garces is a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She blends her professional background in traditional healthcare, wellness and nutrition with her passion for the healing power of spiritual wholeness to provide customized advice and life balance solutions for women across the country. She has completed advanced training and mentorships in Eating Psychology, Spirituality and ongoing Personal Development and weaves those into her professional work.

Focusing on a "real foods framework" to maximize health, Katie examines how our spiritual and emotional barriers have a direct effect on our relationship with our food. Her customized programs work to achieve a "Grown Up" and empowered approach to life balance, so her clients will live lives that feel Spiritual, Sexy & Sane.

Katie founded the wildly popular, Denver-based "Beyond Book Club," and serves as a coach and mentor for nutritionists, health coaches and students. Katie is available for speaking/panelist events for health, wellness and spiritual groups around the country.